Double, Double Toil and Trouble -- Skip the Candy and Give Out Popcorn, Crayons or Bubbles

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Starting to wonder if those mounds of Halloween candy are more of a trick than a treat? Get some fun alternatives to Halloween candy from the Viewpoints.com community.

My granddaughter loves to use her imagination making all sorts of things.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB)October 8, 2009

Before cleaning out the local grocery store's entire supply of Halloween candy, think back to last year's Halloween. The kids came home from trick-or-treating with a couple of Hefty trash bags full of candy. Then they started eating the candy. Then you started eating the candy. Then the calorie panic attack ensued. And finally, the candy gets thrown out.

Break the cycle this year with help from the Viewpoints community, a leading consumer-generated ratings and reviews site. This year, keep your kids' teeth and weight healthier (not to mention yours!) by giving out alternative treats for Halloween.

--Halloween Treats They Can't Eat--

Candy isn't the only thing that kids will love getting in their trick or treat bags. The Viewpoints community shares its favorite non-edible Halloween treat ideas.

What kid doesn't love arts and crafts? Help promote creativity by handing out small packs of crayons, stampers, tiny notepads, pencils (particularly Halloween-themed pencils!) or even mini Play-Doh containers.

"Play-Doh is the most wonderful toy," says cmalibucandy, a member on Viewpoints. "My granddaughter loves to use her imagination making all sorts of things."

Help kids enjoy their Halloween even more by handing out glow sticks, temporary tattoos, bubbles, stickers or even false teeth (vampires are very trendy this year).

Save money by purchasing these items in bulk at a dollar store or party supply store. "Dollar Tree offers cute pencils in packs of 10 for $1," recommends Katrena. Don't forget to look around and see what other things you could give out, like key chains, tiny decks of cards and bookmarks. The possibilities are endless!

--Sugar-Free Can be Just as Sweet--

Still want to give out something sweet to eat? See which sugar-free treats Viewpoints members like best!

Can't stand the idea of Halloween without a little chocolate? Viewpoints members love Reese's Sugar Free Mini Peanut Butter Cups. "They taste good and they're very sweet to eat," Goddess 10 says. "They actually taste better than the Reese's that have sugar in them." Save money by buying these in bulk.

They're not candy, but Ocean Spray Craisins are a deliciously sweet treat that come in small packages, so they're really easy to hand out. Worried that your kids might be a little hesitant about the fact that they're fruit? Just tell them that Taylor Swift swears by them.

Another sweet treat in perfectly-sized portions are Quaker Granola Bites. Perfect for picky eaters, the granola bites are made with fiber, whole grains, zero trans fats. "I found them to be light, slightly crunch and just enough sweetness to satisfy," Gamma says.

Fan of Jelly Belly (but don't want the belly)? Try a sugar-free version instead! Viewpoints members love Jelly Belly Sugar Free Sours. "This healthy alternative tastes just as great as the justifiably famous original version Jelly Belly Beans," AnnaBanana says.

Another creative idea is to hand out microwave popcorn packages still in the wrapper so kids can pop them later. Many popcorn brands come in smaller portioned packages, like Pop Secret 100 Calorie popcorn packages.

And if all else fails…

Make sure kids eat a nutritious meal before trick-or-treating. This way, they'll be much less likely to fill up on candy later at night while playing Halloween Yahtzee.

Also, the kids will undoubtedly still come home with way too much candy. Use the leftover candy in creative ways, like creating a Chocolate Bar Halloween Cake (just be sure to give it away after you make it. The goal is to get the candy OUT of the house).

Have other alternatives to Halloween candy? Share your ideas with the Viewpoints community!

About Viewpoints
Founded in 2006, Viewpoints Network is a social technology and media company focused on helping consumers make smarter decisions. Viewpoints specializes in building communities and motivating "social influencers" to share their experiences by writing reviews, blogs, and how to guides while also participating in forums and contributing ideas that can be voted on. The Viewpoints Technology Platform (VTP) helps to organize and present those contributions to enable other consumers to make purchase decisions. The VTP powers Viewpoints.com and branded communities for customers like Sears Holdings (http://www.mysears.com).

Viewpoints Network, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Chicago.